A place for my quirky thoughts and creative works.

Wordbound #3

All right time to continue playing catch up with Wordbound! One day I’m gonna make it! Here’s the third prompt:

Week 3 – Jan 18, 2017: There is a door. It is closed.

Hours passed in the ER family waiting room as Trent waited anxiously with his mother, Sylvia, for word on Myra’s condition. His foot tapped constantly and he wrung his hands tightly, fearing the worst. Each time control of his emotions was nearly lost, his mother was there with a quick hug and soothing words of comfort.

When the balding doctor, Dr. Hearst, that had greeted him upon arrival strode back out, Trent looked up and met his gaze hoping for some answers. The doctor was unreadable as years of experience had hardened him to tragic situations and had taught him how to perfectly control his facial expressions.

“Trent,” the doctor greeted as he sat across from Trent and Sylvia. “Myra is stable, for now.” Trent breathed a huge sigh of relief and leaned back in his chair, cupping his face in his hands.

“Thank you, thank you,” he repeatedly mumbled in a choked voice.

“She’s not out of the woods yet though,” Dr. Hearst continued. “We had to intubate her in order to protect her airway because the CT scan of her head showed bleeding in her brain. I’m sorry to tell you this, but due to the bleeding in her brain we cannot say if or when she will wake up.” Trent stiffened and looked up at the doctor.

“What?” he managed to get out.

“Myra is in a coma and we do not know if or when she will wake up,” Dr. Hearst repeated. Trent stifled a sob and clenched his hand in a fist, pounding it against his leg.

“Was there any other damage, doctor?” Sylvia inquired as she wrapped her arm around her son supportively.

“Some lacerations that we have repaired, several broken ribs, and a laceration on her liver that we’re only monitoring at this time. It doesn’t appear to need surgical repair and will likely heal on it’s own.” There were several moments of silence as Trent and Sylvia absorbed this information.

“Can we…can we see her?” Trent shakily asked. Dr. Hearst nodded and motioned for the two follow him. They walked down the emergency department hall, past patients moaning in pain and yelling for attention, however Trent heard none of it. All he heard was a dull ringing as he focused on putting one foot in front of another to get to his friend.

Soon they were standing before a closed metal door. Dr. Hearst placed his hand on the handle, however before pushing down he turned to Trent and Sylvia. “I must warn you before we go in, there are going to be a lot of tubes and wires as well as machines around Myra. They are all vital to keeping her alive and myself as well as the bedside nurse will answer any questions you may have.”

“Are you ready to go in?” Trent inhaled deeply and looked over at his mother who gave him a meek smile through her tear stained face. Nodding at the doctor, Trent steeled himself.

The door swung open and Trent and his mother entered. He felt his knees go a little weak upon seeing Myra. She lay on a gurney in the center of the room, a tube coming out of her mouth and several other tubes and wires coming out from her arms and beneath her gown. Her face looked peaceful as the rhythmic beeping of the machine breathing for her matched the rise and fall of her chest. The monitor above quietly displayed her life signs as a petite brunette haired woman stood nearby at a computer typing away. Bags of various colored fluid hung above Myra and pumps for the fluid beeped in a cacophony of stinging sound.

Dr. Hearst stood nearby explaining each device and medication, however Trent didn’t hear a word as he numbly strode across the room towards the chair next to Myra’s gurney and fell into it. He shakily reached out a hand and stroked her long black hair that cascaded messily all about her. His hand moved downward until it met her hand and enclosed it in a tight embrace. Her hand felt like ice to him and her fingers hung limply in his grasp.

“I’m so…I’m so sorry,” he half sobbed. If only they hadn’t argued, she wouldn’t have departed so hurriedly and gotten into the accident. “Can I stay with her?”

Dr. Hearst looked over sympathetically. “For a little while, however we will be transporting her to the Intensive Care Unit in a few moments and unfortunately visiting hours for the floor have ended for the day.” Trent nodded in understanding. “You’ll be able to return in the morning at 8 AM.”

Dr. Hearst placed his hand on Trent’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I can assure you that your friend will be in good hands. When you are ready, go home and get some rest. You will be better able to support your friend if you take care of yourself too.” Departing the room, Dr. Hearst gave a small nod of encouragement to Sylvia who knelt down by her son and gripped his shoulders.

“Oh honey,” Sylvia started.

“It’s all my fault, mom.” Trent then broke down in shuddering sobs as his mother held him close wishing she could do more for her son in this moment.